some good bowl games today

The Army-SMU bowl game early today was a good game. Both programs have been on hard times of late, with Army always working to overcome a lack of raw talent with their triple option scheme and disciplined play. They hadn't won a bowl game since 1985 and had not been in one since 1996.

SMU is just now starting to recover from the first, and so far only, Death Penalty ever imposed by the NCAA in the late 80's. SMU won a bowl game last year and were trying to win bowl games in consecutive years for the first time since the 40's.

Army won it 16-14. They converted a gutsy play on 3rd and 8 with about a minute to play. Having completed only 1 pass all game they threw on third down rather than running and letting the clock run. They completed the pass, moved the chains, and were able to seal it with kneel downs.

The first ever Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium pitted Kansas State vs. Syracuse. This game was back and forth all game, with big plays, trick plays, and both teams pulling out all the stops. Syracuse won it 36-34. Kansas State scored with under a minute to play but the receiver was flagged for a celebration penalty for saluting the crowd after the TD. That backed their 2-point conversion attempt back to the 18, and they couldn't execute. The celebration wasn't over the top and it was a tough call at that spot in the game.

In the Music City Bowl, Tennessee flashed their own custom salute after every TD, their QB flashed shooter fingers and crossed arms to the sidelines after a bunch of big plays and that was okay. But UNC came back to win it 30-27 in double OT. UNC marched down the field to kick a field goal as time expired to tie it. They were aided by Tennessee penalties, including a 30 yard pass with a 15 yard penalty for launching. Still UNC almost blew it when they botched a running play for a few extra yards, then squandered about 9 seconds without spiking the ball. The clock ran out but a review ruled (correctly) that Yates spiked the ball with a second on the clock. UNC got a 5 yard penalty for too many men, since half the field goal team hadn't gotten the memo about the spike and had run on the field and couldn't get off.

UNC still made the field goal. In the second OT, Tennessee threw a pick. UNC then kicked a short field goal on their possession. Good game!